To be totally dreading the Olympics because I live in London

[labelwriter]

I just am! Yesterday, I went to London Bridge to get to work and there was a practice for the Olympics and the whole station was in chaos and it was really shambolic. Last week I went to St James Park and most of it and the Mall was closed. It's going to add ages on to my journey. We have been told to cycle to work if we can but the bus lanes are to be closed so the VIP cars can use them and as i am sure anyone who cycles in central London will agree, this is going to cause lots of problems. Am sure the games themselves will be brilliant but it's the trying to get about in London bit I am dreading.

noddy
On what basis do you make such a silly comment? Of course there are going to be things that go wrong - you have to expect that with such an enormous event, but a hell of a lot will go right because of the huge amount of work that has gone into the planning.
I hate this 'bottle half empty' attitude. I

I read the papers and watch newsnight and have used my brain to come to that decision. Is that ok for you? They have had 7 years to plan for this including sorting out the airport the roads and definitely the security. Acc to top brass army rep on radio last night it takes 2 years to train an army for war so they could have tackled this head on years ago. Or maybe if the country doesn't have the infrastructure to host such a large and demanding event don't bid!

ajandjjmum - that would be all the planning that has meant 3,500 forces personnel have had leave cancelled because G4S can't find all the security personnel it needs in spite of 7 years' warning, then?

Agree down and out. They could have recruited trained and security checked a whole new security team in the time they have had. There were reports about a year ago that the main road in wasn't 'safe' for an increased load. They did say if the weather was hot it would be worse so maybe the crap weather has helped! We cannot afford to do it properly and this is the result.

We live and work in London, and commute using the jubilee line, but have both arranged to be away for the first two weeks of August - I'm teaching at a summer school in rural Dorset and DP is working in Paris for a fortnight. I'm a bit sad that I won't be able to see much of the Games themselves, but not sad about being out of London. Although if the organisers are intelligent, they will be building up the horror so that in the end the reality doesn't seem that bad. Maybe!

Yes - dreadful isn't it, and G4S deserve every bit of bad press they receive. But that's just one aspect of the games albeit a pretty important one. However, the test events have been spectacularly successful, and given the organisers chance to iron out any issues. The Park is amazing and the whole thing has provided employment for thousands, through what has been a dire economic period. There is a tangible sense of excitement in London, that - imho - has spread throughout the country with the torch relay etc., and I think that overall the Games will leave a very positive legacy. I accept that there are many people who disagree, but I hate it when people jump on the bandwagon with no tangible reason, just feel like being negative for the hell of it.

It's not just that though. People that do the sound and lighting have only just had contracts confirmed. Most are freelancers so have had to take other work meaning bus loads of crew from Germany are being used instead. Lots of the technical equipment is being shipped in from the states as because of the short notice there isn't enough kit in this country.
The crews are also not put up anywhere near the sites so they are all having to figure out how to get there for 6am. It might not sound much but an extra 1,500 trying to be at the same venues at the same time adds to the impact.

The financial implications are huge for post the whole event. There are many volunteers and the jobs are temporary. Also many of the large companies who showed an interest in purchasing some of the buildings afterwards are now one by one pulling out. It is a distraction in an economic crisis and is half arsed if you really listen to the stories coming out of it. I am not jumping on anything I have always thought it would end like this as we do not have the money to stage it properly and the country is in such a mess that afterwards there will be masses of resentment once the hoo ha has died down.

says it all very well

Its massively patronising to say that anyone who isn't doing cartwheels about it is being pessimistic etc.

I can't think of one way in which this will benefit me or my children now or in the future. I can think of plenty of ways in which it will impact negatively.

You aren't a pessimist you are a realist like a lot of us. I don't know anyone who thinks its a positive thing for a country where we are literally taking food from the disabled while the rich get richer

Ah well, an upside of it all has been that my trip to ASDA this morning was brightened up by lots of rather attractive uniformed soldiers about the place. They looked tired though. And I felt like offering their families to come and stay so they could see them instead of having to wait another 3 weeks on top of their tours in Afghanistan. Did think they might consider me a nutter though so I just kept walking.

but why don't people at least wait and see if their commute is the hell on earth they are predicting before deciding the Olympics is the worst thing to happen. EVER.

Yes exactly. Fine if it's a shambles when it actually happens - then say so. But insisting it WILL be a shambles is just so downbeat it's absurd.

I agree you can't go from cycling 0 to 36 miles a day - but plenty of people have commutes where they could get off at earlier stops and cycle part of the way. The more cyclists there are on a road, the safer the road will be btw.

I think we can see Matthew Norman isn't a fan of the Olympics! For what it's worth, DD took part in the media 'sleep over' at the Athletes' Village, and from what she said, it was a great success.

As a country we are going to come out of the Olympics several billion pounds up, as well as having improved facilities and employment during dire times.

DS is a volunteer. He'll be sleeping on the floor in his sister's flat for the duration, leaving at 5.30 am to get to some of his shifts, but he's a 'can do, happy to do' sort of person. 250,000 people applied for volunteer roles for 100,000 places - lots of people are happy to be involved for no financial gain, but for the pleasure of being involved in a 'once in a lifetime' event.

My regular bus driver (no I am not 90, I just always get on at the same time!) told me that when the Olympics are on our bus services here in Yorkshire will be massively reduced because all the drivers are off down to London to make a grand a week driving the extra buses they will be putting on there.
I really, really hope he is exaggerating.
Of course First Buses won't actually let the passengers know if this is true.
They will just leave us standing like arseholes in the rain waiting for buses that aint coming. Cunts.

Yeah, the Olympics could be great.
If we were a country that could manage it without going insanely over budget, with transport at a standstill, the threat of terrorist attacks hanging over our heads, endless rain, and if the "infastructure" that has been built for the events wasn't going to be sold off to slavering developers to be turned into (I'm guessing) lugshury apardments.

Grr,

Nancy. There really is no doubt that its going to have a huge negative impact on commuters. To say wait and see is a bit stupid tbh.

I'm a Londener. Live in zone 2, work in zone 1 and get the jubilee in every day in the direction of Stratford. I expect it'll be busy but I'm going to try And not get worked up Nd enjoy the atmosphere. It's for two weeks...well the main bit is anyway...so not awful. That said, my usual route to work has been packed everyday but one this week so the knock on effect of extra tourists already seems to be happening already. I may get more stressed about it when it happens though.

When is the worst main bit going to be over exactly? I may have to go to London in the second week of August.

Amber - i doubt it's going to be as bad as everyone says.

nowthen - that sounds like bollocks to me.

But at least you're not pre-judging greenplastictrees!

Hope it's OK - DD travels the same route!

Nancy-No, I really do have to go to London in August!
(I didn't think it was that unbelievable..)

YANBU it's already a nightmare round several London stations, and there already seem to be a lot more people on public transport on some lines. Am dreading it, it's going to be a complete nightmare think we'll be housebound

I think the main bit (e.g. Events) finishes on 12th August so I'm afraid it sounds like it'll still be on when you are there.

Nancy66 - why do think it won't be as bad though? It's already pretty bad in some places and I haven't heard anything official that sound like a plan to me. DLR is horrible on exhibition days, the platform is really small in some stations- has that suddenly grown.

I like the cable car thing. I'd be happier if they had done more of that sort of thing TBH. Bit more proactive than just calling in lots of cheap labour and hoping for the best.